Warriors at Heart (The Last Kingdom Fanfic)

Chapter 8

Around mid-morning we had been fed and were called upon to go to the horses. Uhtred and I walked alongside towards where negotiations were to be held. It was explained to me that Uhtred's family had requested his return and Earl Ubba was here to barter Uhtred's freedom for as much silver and gold he could muster. I shivered at the thought and kept staring at Uhtred wondering what he would do if he had to return to his family he so badly wished to not have to go with.

We arrived at a clearing where Earl Ubba and Ragnar greeted a skinny, cruel looking man, I later learned was his Uhtred's uncle, Aelfric. The cruel man had his right-hand man with him and a priest. I gave the priest the evil eye and saw him cross himself, something Uhtred explained meant he was warding off evil. I laughed at this, drawing the priest's attention further. The priest excused himself from his group and asked permission to speak to Uhtred. Earl Ragnar granted him the courtesy. I watched the man take Uhtred off to the side and whispered to him. I wondered what they were saying, and Earl Ragnar soon became curious and interrupted them. He pulled Uhtred back to us and then asked what the priest had been whispering.

"He wanted to know how you treat me," Uhtred said. "I told him you beat me."

Earl Ragnar laughed at this and clapped Uhtred on the back. He then joined Lord Ubba and Uhtred's uncle. The three men hesitantly shook hands and then sat on three stumps to begin negotiations.

"What else did he want to know?" I asked, curiosity about the priest's connection to Uhtred taking control of my tongue.

"If I was okay," Uhtred replied, watching the adults closely. "He says my uncle means to kill me."

"That's awful. You can't go back to him!" I almost shouted.

Uhtred shushed me, and we watched on in silence. Lord Ubba demanded 300 pounds weight in silver, to which Uhtred's uncle protested heavily, "He is but a boy, he is surely not worth 300 pounds weight in silver."

"He is a lord," Lord Ubba retorted.

"He is... I am the Lord of Bebbanburg," Aelfric protested again.

"He is the rightful lord is he not?" Earl Ragnar cut in.

Uhtred's uncle paled and looked lost for words, but managed to find some, "I am willing to pay 100 pounds weight in silver for the boy. That is all our family can offer."

"Horseshit," Ravn cut in, all eyes turning to him sitting behind Earl Ragnar.

"Pardon me?" Aelfric asked, taken aback.

"He is the Lord of Bebbanburg. You are merely a placeholder," Ravn retorted, clearly having lost any patience he may have had for Aelfric. "He is worth more than 300 pounds weight in silver. You disrespect us by offering so little? Disrespect the boy?" Ravn continued, clearly infuriated at this point.

"I mean no disrespect. I merely mean to say Bebbanburg isn't as wealthy as you lords believe it to be," Aelfric tried.

I saw Earl Ragnar lean over and whisper into Earl Ubba's ear. Ubba's bored face lit up at whatever Earl Ragnar had said. I watched Earl Ragnar stand and walk away from the conversation. He stood and leaned on a tree nearby, hand on his axe, ready to draw if needed.

"The boy is sold to Earl Ragnar," Ubba said calmly.

"What? I thought this was a negotiation, not an auction," Aelfric objected.

"It became an auction when you refused our offer," Ravn said calmly.

Uhtred's uncle looked furious. His man whispered in his ear and he waved him away. "150 pounds weight in silver," Aelfric offered.

"Earl Ragnar's paying 6," Ubba replied.

"6?" Aeflric waivered.

"600 pounds weight in silver," Ubba said again, more clearly. "The boy is Earl Ragnar's unless you can offer a better price?" Ubba smirked.

Uhtred and I watched as his uncle stood and stormed off, taking his men with him. Ravn and Ubba chuckled at his retreating back. "He sure didn't put up a fight for the boy," Ravn commented.

"He sure didn't," Ubba laughed.

Earl Ragnar rejoined the group and handed Ubba a pouch. Ubba greedily peered inside and then attached it to his belt. The men shook hands and smiled at one another. I turned to Uhtred who looked sad.

"What's the matter?" I asked, not understanding why he was upset.

"I was only worth 150 pounds weight in silver?"

"What does it matter? You knew he didn't like you," I poked at Uhtred's arm.

"I guess," Uhtred sighed.

"Now he can't kill you," I smiled, before going on, "and you get to stay with us! Uhtred you are now a Dane!"

"That is true," Uhtred replied, seeming to brighten a bit at this prospect. "What about Bebbanburg though?" His face fell some.

"I'll help you take it back one day!" I said gleefully.

"Promise?"

"On the hammer of Thor, I promise."

Uhtred smiled at me, and we were joined by Earl Ragnar. "We head home today," he said gruffly, before wandering off.

"It would appear my son has taken a liking to you boy," Ravn said, coming up behind us.

"I think you like him too Lord Ravn," I chuckled.

"And what, young lady, makes you say that?" he asked, taking my hand in his so I could help lead him along.

"You said he was worth more than 300 pounds weight in silver," I said, flashing Uhtred a smile.

"So, I did. So, I did," Ravn agreed softly, holding his other hand out for Uhtred to hold onto.

The three of us slowly walked and rejoined Earl Ragnar and his men at the edge of the wood.